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Must Do Restaurants in the Sarasota & Siesta Key Areas

Sarasota • Siesta Key • Longboat Key • Lido Key • Venice

Dining out is a big part of any vacation, and a great meal can be a highlight of your visit to Sarasota, Florida.

Even if you don’t have a sophisticated palate, you will appreciate the wide range of cuisines Sarasota and the surrounding region has to offer.

There are more than 800 restaurants in Sarasota County. In fact, within a 25-mile radius of Sarasota, you’ll find more Zagat Guide, Trend Dining Award, and Distinguished Restaurants of North America than any other area in Florida!

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Sarasota Offers Many Fantastic Restaurants

The Suncoast’s restaurants offer a variety of dining experiences, everything from cozy cafes, restaurants on the water, to fine dining and bistros, as well as plenty of options for families where casual atmospheres and liberal dress codes are the norms.

You’ll savor innovative cuisines from every corner of the globe offering you the opportunity to indulge in a variety of culinary delights. Besides fantastic fresh seafood, authentic Italian, French, Cuban, and even traditional Amish, you’ll find most restaurants offers something with Floribbean flare. Featuring the freshest ingredients, complex medleys of spices and generous uses of fresh fruit, especially citrus and tropical, these exotic flavors create a taste unique to Florida.

To satisfy your sweet tooth, you can’t leave Florida without having a slice of key lime pie. The pie has a tart kick and is a staple on most Florida restaurant menus.

Check the DEALS tab in the top MENU for spectacular coupon savings on area Restaurants!

See more things to do in Sarasota, Longboat Key, Lido Key, Siesta Key and Venice Florida.

Must Do Restaurants in the Sarasota & Siesta Key Areas

O'Leary's Tiki Bar & Grill in Sarasota

Enjoy a meal, a cold beer, cocktail, or wine under an umbrella with your toes in the sand or under the open-air, waterfront Tiki Hut. This laid-back, tropical-themed, family-friendly downtown Sarasota restaurant and bar is located in Bayfront Park near Marina Jack and features live music daily. The restaurant is dog-friendly, plus you can arrive by car or boat! O'Leary's serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu... Read More

Captain Curt’s Crab & Oyster Bar in Siesta Key

Captain Curt’s Crab & Oyster Bar in Siesta Key, Florida is a family-friendly restaurant and bar offering a wide variety of seafood in a casual Old Florida fish house atmosphere.  Their award-winning clam chowder is a favorite among locals and visitors alike! Captain Curt’s Crab & Oyster Bar offers fantastic real fruit frozen daiquiris–grab... Read More

Baker & Wife Restaurant in Sarasota

This casual chef-driven European-style cafe located in the Southgate Village Plaza is close to downtown Sarasota and Siesta Key, Florida. Chef Issac Correa's menu features fresh, and inventive globally inspired soups, salads, burgers, artisanal brick oven pizza, seafood, and meats. Learn more about Baker & Wife in this featured blog post! You'll want to save room for one of their scrumptious desserts–housemade... Read More

Marina Jack Restaurant in Sarasota

Marina Jack Offers Three Waterfront Dining Options Blue Sunshine Patio Bar & Grill Portside is a casual and family-friendly open-air restaurant. It’s a great spot to enjoy a tropical drink, lunch or dinner right on the water. The Blue Sunshine Patio Bar & Grill is also dog-friendly! Marina Jack’s Blue Sunshine Patio menu features a variety of appetizers, salads, soups and sandwiches, as well as gluten... Read More

Café Gabbiano

Authentic Southern Italian Cuisine Expect the very best with made-to-order seasonally inspired chef-prepared dishes. The moderately priced dinner menu features a wide selection of pasta, hand-cut veal, free-range chicken, freshly made mozzarella, locally sourced seafood and vegetables, and an extensive wine list. All the delicious menu items and wine are available to go! Café Gabbiano Wine Spectator’s 2023 Award of Excellence for their wine list... Read More


The Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar in Sarasota

Seafood, Burgers, Salads, and More Enjoy a delicious choice of seafood, fresh catch fish, burgers, wraps, salads, and pizza. Visit the Raw Bar in Siesta Key Village, south Siesta Key, St. Armands Circle, or Downtown Venice for oysters and shooters, or dig in at the Deck with classic American fare. Frozen Daiquiris and Drink Specials Well known for their vast selection of frozen daiquiris and drink... Read More

Casey Key Fish House & Tiki Bar in Osprey

Casual “Old Florida” Style Fish House Casey Key Fish House and Tiki Bar in Osprey, Florida offers waterside dining and live music in a relaxed and casual atmosphere. Every seat has a view of the water! Enjoy fresh fish and seafood, with choices for landlubbers too. Live music is featured in the Tiki Bar every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! Casey Key Fish House also offers... Read More

Der Dutchman Restaurant & Bakery Sarasota

Experience the warm and inviting culture and home-style cooking of  Pinecraft Mennonite and Amish community at Der Dutchman Restaurant & Bakery in Sarasota, Florida. Enjoy comfort foods such as broasted chicken, tender roast beef, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, fresh baked bread, a wonderful fresh salad bar, and an extensive array of homemade desserts. Der Dutchman In-house Bakery Be sure to stop at the in-house bakery... Read More

The Crow's Nest Restaurant in Venice

The first floor of The Crow’s Nest restaurant in Venice, Florida features a casual tavern and is a great place for drinks, a casual meal, or late night snack. Enjoy daily Happy Hour from 4 to 6 p.m., late night Happy Hour from 9 p.m. to close, and Saturdays and Sundays, Happy Hour runs from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Features two... Read More

Mi Pueblo Mexican Restaurant

Voted Sarasota's Best Mexican Restaurant and Best Margarita Mi Pueblo features a festive atmosphere offering authentic traditional Mexican cuisine, award-winning specialty margaritas, and a tequila bar. This Sarasota, Florida award-winning Mexican restaurant is family-friendly and has been an area favorite since 1999. Enjoy delicious Mexican food made with fresh ingredients. Favorites include tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, burritos, specialty margaritas, and more. Mi Pueblo offers outdoor dining at... Read More

Nancy's Bar-B-Q in Sarasota

Nancy's Bar-B-Q closed permanently January 7, 2024. Nancy smokes succulent North Carolina-style pulled pork, beef brisket, St. Louis ribs, and chicken "low and slow" at this family-friendly Sarasota barbecue restaurant. Smoked salmon, salads, many fresh vegetarian sides, a kids menu, and a full bar are available. Enjoy Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and NFL Sunday Ticket! Nancy's Bar-B-Q was... Read More

Fins at Sharky’s Restaurant in Venice

Waterfront Dining in Venice, Florida Upscale dining in a contemporary coastal-inspired setting with an elevated unparalleled Gulf of Mexico view. Fin's at Sharky's offers an expansive and creative menu with an Asian flair featuring sushi, small plates, seafood, steaks, sandwiches, burgers, salads and traditional entrees. Dine indoors or outdoors on the covered terrace. Fin's at Sharky's also offers a kid's menu. Lite bites and drink specials daily... Read More

Ophelia's on the Bay Restaurant in Siesta Key

Award-Winning Restaurant on Little Sarasota Bay Dine in one of two glass-walled, casually elegant dining rooms or outside on the dockside open-air patio at this South Siesta Key waterfront restaurant. Ophelia's on the Bay offers a blend of cuisines and influences fusing new world with old, American with Asian, and Italian with Floridian. The menu changes daily using the freshest local fish and produce available. Standout starter... Read More

Siesta Key Oyster Bar

This casual Siesta Key Village restaurant and bar feature oysters on the half shell, fresh seafood, award-winning wings, flatbread pizza, salads, burgers, cajun crab dip, and steamed mussels in white wine sauce. Read our blog article about our visit to Siesta Key Oyster Bar – “SKOB”. Happy Hour Big G’s Crustacean Happy Hour daily from 3 to 6 p.m. Enjoy a dozen oysters on... Read More

Evie's at Spanish Point Restaurant & Tiki Hut in Osprey

Located right on the water at Spanish Point, the live music and a tiki hut atmosphere make it the perfect spot for lunch, dinner or sunset drinks! Enjoy lunch, dinner, or drinks while watching the sunset at this casual open-air, waterfront Tiki Hut restaurant and bar on Little Sarasota Bay. Evie's at Spanish Point's menu features burgers, nachos, a variety of sandwiches, tacos,... Read More